Sunday Bird Droppings: Where it’s finally the last day of the season

Happy last day of the season, Camden Chatters! Our long nightmare is finally over! Actually, just kidding. We probably have at least two more years of this nightmare before it’s all over. But at least after today we’ll get a break for a few months.

Just because the last day of the season means nothing to the Orioles other than the promise of sweet relief doesn’t mean that’s the case all over. In fact, things are quite exciting over in the National League. Both the NL Central and the NL West are TIED!

The Cubs and Brewers are both 94-67 atop the Central and the Rockies and Dodgers in the West are tied at 90-71. All four teams will be going to the postseason, it’s just a matter of determining who will start in a five-game division series and who will have to play in the one-game wild card playoff.

If all four teams win, or all four teams lose, we’ll get to see two tiebreaker games tomorrow! Tiebreaker games are as exciting as it gets, so that is what I’m rooting for. I’m sure the Braves, who are safe atop the N.L. East, are also rooting for that.

Oh right, this is an Orioles blog. So I guess I should talk about that? Here are some links.

Links

A season for the Birds -- Inside the Orioles' historically awful year - ESPN
This is a depressing story, especially the part about Caleb Joseph's kid losing all of his friends.

Orioles slugger Chris Davis finishes with MLB-worst .168 - Yahoo Sports
One last story about how terrible Chris Davis is.

Kevin Gausman Q&A: Pitching in the postseason, Braves impressions - AJC.com
The Orioles might be heading home after today's game, but Kevin Gausman is not. Good for him.

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You share a birthday with former Oriole and Hall of Famer Robin Roberts! Roberts is best known as being a Philadelphia Phillie, but he also spent four seasons with the Orioles where he pitched to a 3.09 ERA in 113 games. Mr. Roberts would have turned 92 today, but passed away in 2010.

It’s also the birthday of 2017 outfielder Seth Smith, 2002 relief pitcher Yorkis Perez, and 1995 teammates John DeSilva and Curtis Goodwin.

On this day in 1978, second baseman Rich Dauer made his only error of the season in the very last game of the year! Dauer hadn’t made an error in 425 chances until then.

In 1989, the surprise “Why Not?” Orioles were eliminated from postseason contention after leading the division for most of the season. They finished in second place, two games behind the Toronto Blue Jays.

In 2012, the also surprise Orioles clinched their first postseason berth since 1997.